U.S. patent number 4,802,293 [Application Number 07/123,608] was granted by the patent office on 1989-02-07 for adjustable earth-moving attachment for a vehicle.
Invention is credited to Raymond H. Smith.
United States Patent |
4,802,293 |
Smith |
February 7, 1989 |
Adjustable earth-moving attachment for a vehicle
Abstract
An earth-moving attachment for use with a vehicle includes a
pair of earth-moving blade assemblies mounted on a main beam. The
earth-moving blade assemblies are adapted to be independently
movable in several planes with respect to each other and with
respect to the main beam so that a plurality of earth-working
operations can be performed, and the attachment is amenable for use
in conjunction with a wide variety of terrains. The blade
assemblies are mounted and designed to efficiently transfer forces
with the main beam.
Inventors: |
Smith; Raymond H. (Larned,
KS) |
Family
ID: |
22409692 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/123,608 |
Filed: |
November 20, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/381; 172/787;
172/799.5; 37/268; 37/269; 37/271; 37/273; 37/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F
3/7627 (20130101); E02F 5/223 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02F
3/76 (20060101); E02F 5/22 (20060101); E02F
5/00 (20060101); E02F 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;37/18R,18A,110,268,269,273,274,276,285,287,219,221
;172/786,787,799.5,155,169,188,191,201 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Eickholt; Eugene H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Litman McMahon & Brown
Claims
I claim:
1. An earth-moving attachment for a vehicle comprising:
a main frame assembly which includes a main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means adapted to be mounted on the vehicle, a main beam
connected at one end thereof to said main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means and extending outwardly therefrom to have the
longitudinal centerline thereof aligned with the direction of
movement of the vehicle along a path;
a pair of earth-moving blade assemblies which can be movably
mounted on said main beam, each earth-moving blade assembly
including
a blade for moving earth in a predetermined direction with respect
to the path,
an inner edge on said blade locatable adjacent to said main
beam,
an outer edge on said blade,
a first blade-to-main beam attaching means attaching said blade to
said main beam,
a second blade-to-main frame attaching means attaching said blade
to said main beam,
said first blade-to-main beam attaching means including means for
adjusting the height of said blade above the path and means for
adjusting the position of the inner edge of said blade with respect
to said main beam longitudinal centerline, and
said second blade-to-main beam attaching means including means for
adjusting the position of the outer edge of said blade with respect
to said main beam longitudinal centerline.
2. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 1 wherein said
first blade-to-main frame attaching means includes means to adjust
the position of said blade in at least two planes.
3. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 2 wherein said
first blade-to-main frame attaching means includes means to vary
the angular relationship of said blade with respect to the blade in
the other earth-moving blade assembly in one plane of said at least
two planes.
4. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 3 wherein said
second blade-to-main frame attaching means includes means for
adjusting the angular relationship of said blade with respect to
the blade in the other earth-moving blade assembly in said one
plane.
5. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 4 wherein said one
plane includes a line which is parallel to the path of travel of
the vehicle, and the other plane of said at least two planes is
oriented at an angle with respect to said one plane.
6. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 5 wherein said
first blade-to-main frame attaching means includes means for
spacing the inner edge of said blade apart from the inner edge of
the blade in the other earth-moving blade assembly along the
longitudinal centerline of said main beam.
7. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 5 wherein said
first blade-to-main frame attaching means height adjusting means
includes a beam means mountable on said main beam and means for
mounting said beam means on said main beam in a manner such that
said beam means is movable along the longitudinal centerline of
said main beam.
8. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 7 wherein said
bracket means includes means for moving said blade in said other
plane of said at least two planes.
9. The earth-moving attachment in claim 8 further including a
slider mounted on said main beam and each of said earth-moving
blade assemblies further includes an adjustable means for
connecting said slider to the outer edge of said blade included in
said each earth-moving blade assembly.
10. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 9 wherein said
adjustable means includes a hydraulic cylinder.
11. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 10 wherein each
earth-moving blade assembly further includes a blade-support arm
beam mounted on said blade for attachment to said hydraulic
cylinder, and a cylinder-to-slider attaching means on said
hydraulic cylinder attachable to said slider.
12. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 11 wherein said
cylinder-to-slider attaching means includes means for adjusting the
angular position of said hydraulic cylinder with respect to said
blade and with respect to said main beam, and each earth-moving
blade assembly further includes a cylinder-to-support arm beam
attaching means associated with said hydraulic cylinder and having
means for adjusting the angular position of said hydraulic cylinder
with respect to said blade and with respect to said main beam.
13. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 12 wherein said
hydraulic cylinder includes a rod that is extendable out of said
hydraulic cylinder.
14. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 13 wherein said
main frame-to-vehicle attaching means includes a cross tongue which
is oriented to extend transversely to the longitudinal centerline
of said main beam.
15. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 14 wherein said
main frame-to-vehicle attaching means includes a vertical mast
mounted on said cross tongue.
16. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 15 wherein said
main beam is located to extend along the central axis of the path
of travel of the vehicle.
17. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the
inner edge of said blade is stepped.
18. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 17 wherein said
blade further includes brace means.
19. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 18 wherein said
blade further includes an appended blade.
20. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 19 wherein said
blade further includes a skid.
21. The earth-moving attachment defined in claim 20 wherein said
blade further includes means attaching said skid thereto, said skid
attaching means including means for varying the orientation of said
skid with respect to said blade.
22. In combination:
a vehicle adapted to move along a predetermined path;
a main frame assembly which includes a main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means adapted to be mounted on one end of said vehicle,
and a main beam connected at one end thereof to said main
frame-to-vehicle attaching means and oriented to have the
longitudinal centerline thereof aligned with the predetermined
path;
a pair of earth-moving blades which can be movably mounted on said
main beam, each of said earth-moving blades having an inner edge
and an outer edge and each of said earth-moving blades being
adapted to move earth in a predetermined direction with respect to
said path;
blade-to-main beam connecting means attaching said blade inner and
said blade outer edges to said main beam in a manner such that said
blades and said main beam form a closed polygon with each of said
blades extending along one side of said polygon and said main beam
extending along a diagonal of said polygon; and
said blade-to-main beam attaching means including a blade position
adjustment means associated with each blade for varying the
orientation of each blade in at least two planes with respect to
said main beam, each of said blade position adjustment means being
adapted to vary the orientation of the blade associated therewith
separately and independently of the other blade whereby the
orientation of each blade with respect to the path can be varied in
a plurality of planes.
23. The combination defined in claim 22 wherein said main beam is
mounted in cantilever fashion on said main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means.
24. The combination defined in claim 23 wherein the longitudinal
centerline of said main beam is aligned with the longitudinal axis
of the path.
25. The combination defined in claim 22 wherein a portion of said
main beam extends along one side of said polygon.
26. The combination defined in claim 22 wherein all of the angles
included between the sides of said polygon are different from each
other.
27. The combination defined in claim 22 wherein all of the sides of
said polygon lie in planes that are different from each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to the field of earth
moving, and, in particular, to an earth-moving attachment for a
vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of earth moving, most jobs require specific equipment.
For example, the formation of long trenches may require the use of
a backhoe; whereas, backfilling may require a bulldozer. This
specificity of requirements may make one article of earth-moving
equipment so impractical for use in other areas of earth moving as
to be nearly unusable except in the particular area for which it is
designed. Accordingly, anyone who is required to perform a
multiplicity of earth-moving jobs may be required to have access to
a large variety of earth-moving equipment. Such a requirement may
be quite expensive. Such a requirement may also prohibit a
homeowner from performing certain tasks himself, and require him to
employ an expensive company to carry out such tasks as landscaping
or the like.
However, more serious than simply preventing a homeowner from
performing certain tasks, is the drawback of preventing a single
company from performing all tasks incident to a single larger
job.
For example, in the roadbuilding art, graders are used for
fine-grading relatively loose and level earth, and include a
leveling blade mounted between the front and rear wheels of a
vehicle. Graders are usually large and expensive as they must work
large areas. Even though there are many designs intended to make
graders more maneuverable with respect to such operations, graders
may still not be maneuverable enough to be efficiently and
practically applied to other jobs such as terracing or landscaping
which might require intricate turns or other such close work.
Furthermore, most graders are large vehicles, and thus, efficient
use of forces applied to the earth-moving blades may not be a
serious problem, and since the blades of a grader are generally not
changed, the ease with which a blade mounting can be changed may
not be a primary consideration in the design of graders.
Still further, since the earth-moving blade of a grader is mounted
between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle, the design of
graders generally does not give primary consideration to whether or
not the blades and the mounting therefor are being pushed or
pulled.
As discussed above, many earth-moving jobs require an earth-moving
blade to be moved along a path having intricate and tight turns and
to work in a small area. Accordingly, the blade must be pushed in
some locations, and pulled in others if the equipment is to be
operated in an efficient manner. Still further, if the earth-moving
equipment is to operate efficiently, the angle of attack between
the earth-moving blade and the earth should be variable so the
blade position can be altered to make most efficient use of the
forces exerted by the vehicle which may be in a location relative
to the blades dictated by the slope and contour of the terrain
worked rather than in a position selected to most efficiently apply
force to the blades.
All of the above-discussed drawbacks may prevent a grader from
being used to efficiently work earth in many operations, such as
excavating a trench adjacent to a road during preparation of that
road, that are associated with road building, which is the primary
function of a grader, as well as being applied to other areas, such
as the preparation of terraces or tiered banks.
Accordingly, there are other forms of earth-moving equipment, such
as plows, or the like, which are generally used to perform tasks
requiring a high degree of maneuverability, such as cutting,
turning and pulverizing soil in the preparation of furrows and
various layers of earth elevations. Such devices are maneuverable,
and can have the earth-moving blades easily changed and the angle
of attack easily altered. Accordingly, earth-moving equipment such
a plow, does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks associated with
the lack of maneuverability of large equipment.
However, equipment, such as a plow, is generally not designed to
permit the earth-moving blades to operate efficiently in several
modes, nor are these blades generally designed to make the most
efficient use of the forces applied thereto. Still further,
equipment such as a plow, has sacrified its ability to efficiently
perform jobs associated with graders and the like in order to
efficiently perform other jobs. Accordingly, the problem of
specificity is still present, albeit in a different form.
Neither graders nor plows are capable of efficiently pushing
material in the manner of a bulldozer. Since many common jobs
require the use of a bulldozer, a company or a homeowner may be
required to either own a bulldozer or to hire one. In either
instance, the cost in time and money is expensive and may be
wasteful. However, even further than this, a bulldozer has its own
shortcomings that detract from its overall adaptability and
versatility. For example, since a bulldozer generally includes a
single earth-moving blade, it generally cannot form certain types
of terraces or the like in the most efficient manner, and the
design of a bulldozer does not need to place primary emphasis on
the efficient distribution of forces to and from the blade during
use or in the attachment of the blade to the vehicle in a manner
that permits easy and rapid movement of the angle of attack of the
blade (other than the usual movement associated with the pushing of
material) or its removal and replacement.
While none of the presently available earth moving-equipment is
extremely versatile, such equipment is still not sufficiently
adaptable to be modified to make it more efficient in carrying out
jobs for which it was not designed. For example, a grader generally
does not have means for readily adapting such device to perform
jobs most efficiently performed by a plow.
Therefore, not only does present earth-moving equipment have
drawbacks associated with the specificity of the equipment design
vis a vis the variety of requirements associated with the
earth-moving industry, such equipment has a further drawback in
that it is not easily modified to be usable, even in a manner that
is not most efficient, to perform jobs for which it was not
primarily designed.
Accordingly, there is need for a device which is versatile and can
be used for a wide variety of earth-moving jobs and can be used to
adapt other earth-moving equipment to perform a greater variety of
earth-moving jobs.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment for a vehicle which can be used to
efficiently perform a wide variety of earth-moving jobs, including
more adequately and rapidly filling trenches.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment for a vehicle that permits a variety of
other earth-moving equipment to be adapted for use in jobs for
which such other equipment was not primarily designed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment which is adaptable to make the most
efficient use of forces applied to the earth-moving blades.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment for a vehicle which is adaptable for use in
a variety of modes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment for a vehicle which is inexpensive and can
be easily modified.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide an
earth-moving attachment for a vehicle which is amenable for use as
a grader, a bulldozer or as a plow and can be used to perform jobs
associated with each of these devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved by an earth-moving attachment
which is adapted to be removably attached to a vehicle such as a
truck, a car, a tractor or any other such self-propelled vehicle to
be pushed or pulled by that vehicle. The attachment is designed to
assume a variety of configurations and to efficiently distribute
forces to earth-moving blades in any configuration.
In this manner, the earth-moving attachment embodying the present
invention is amenable for use in carrying out jobs heretofore
associated only with large equipment, such as graders, yet is also
amenable for use in carrying out jobs heretofore associated with
smaller equipment, such as plows or backhoes. Thus, the
earth-moving attachment of the present invention permits a single
vehicle to be used in performing jobs that require many intricate
turns and close work, such as the building of terraces, or earth
banks, or the like, as well as in performing jobs that require
moving large amounts of earth, such as the building of long
trenches, or the like.
Accordingly, the attachment of the present invention can be
attached to a plow, a bulldozer or a grader to add functions of
plowing, to a bulldozer, bulldozing to a plow or to a grader, and
the like. For example, a trench can be formed adjacent to a roadbed
being formed by a grader using the grader adapted to include the
device of the present invention, or a bulldozer can be used to
define narrow trenches by attaching the device of the present
invention to the bulldozer, or the like.
Specifically, the earth-moving attachment of the present invention
includes a main frame assembly having a main beam to which
earth-moving blades are movably attached. The blades can be moved
in a plurality of planes, including a plane which is upright with
respect to the ground being traversed by the vehicle and a plane
which is oriented along the ground being traversed by the vehicle.
The blades are attached to the main beam to form a closed polygon
with the main beam extending along a diagonal of that polygon so
that forces exerted on and by the blades are always transferred to
the main beam in an efficient manner. The main beam is connected to
the vehicle in cantilever fashion by a main beam-to-vehicle
attachment means that is adapted to distribute the forces exerted
thereon by the main beam in an efficient manner. The main beam is
also oriented to accommodate such forces in an efficient
manner.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration
and example, certain embodiments of this invention.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include
exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate
various objects and features thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the earth-moving attachment embodying
the present invention mounted on a self-propelled vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective of the earth-moving attachment of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the earth-moving attachment of
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the earth-moving attachment of the
present invention in the FIG. 3 configuration.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the earth-moving attachment in
the FIG. 3 configuration.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a first blade-to-main frame attaching
means.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the first blade-to-main
frame attaching means.
FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG.
4.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view taken along lines 9--9 of FIG.
4.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one element used in a second
blade-to-main frame attaching means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
Shown in FIG. 1 is an earth-moving device 10 in the process of
filling a trench T. The device 10 includes a self-propelled vehicle
12, such as a tractor, truck, bulldozer or the like, which is
adapted to move in a forward direction or in a rearward direction
along a predetermined path as indicated in FIG. 1 by the two-headed
arrow P. The device is shown moving in the rearward, pushing mode
in FIG. 1, but can also move in a forward, pulling mode as will be
apparent from the ensuing discussion.
The vehicle 12 includes a rear end 14 and a front end 16 as well as
appropriate control and motive mechanisms and the like. Those
skilled in the art will be able to envision various appropriate
vehicles from this disclosure, and thus the vehicle 12 will not be
further described.
The device 10 includes an earth-moving attachment 20 which embodies
the present invention. The earth-moving attachment 20 is best shown
in FIG. 2, and attention is now directed to such FIG. 2.
The earth-moving attachment 20 includes a main frame assembly 22
having a main frame-to-vehicle attaching means 24 on one end
thereof and a main beam 26 attached in cantilever fashion at one
end thereof to the main frame-to-vehicle attaching means 24. The
main beam 26 is mounted on the main frame-to-vehicle attaching
means to have the longitudinal centerline thereof extending along
the predetermined path of device movement, either forewardly or
rearwardly, depending upon the direction of movement of the
vehicle. In a specific application, the main beam 26 can have the
longitudinal centerline thereof extending along the centerline of
the path of vehicle movement.
The main beam 26 is monolithic, is designed and includes material
so that it will efficiently accommodate the forces exerted thereon
and transferrred thereto during operation of the device 10 in the
manner described below. The beam 26 and the attachment means 24 are
also designed and associated with each other and with the vehicle
in a manner which efficiently transfers forces to and from the
assembly 22 and to and from the main beam during operation of the
device 10 in carrying out the various earth-moving operations
described and taught below.
The main frame assembly 22 also includes a pair of earth-moving
blade assemblies 30 which are identical, and which are each
attached to the main beam 26 to be adjustable in a plurality of,
and at least two, planes with respect to the path of movement of
the device. The blade assemblies 30 are each individually connected
to the main beam 26 to be adjustable separately from the movement
and adjustment of the other blade assembly thereby making the
device 10 able to carry out a wide variety of earth-moving
jobs.
Each of the blade assemblies 30 includes an elongate blade 32
having an inner edge 34 locatable adjacent to the main beam 26 in
the set-up configuration shown in FIG. 2, and an outer edge 36
locatable remotely from the main beam 26 in the set-up
configuration of the device 10. Each blade 32 further includes a
first edge 38 which is the blade top edge in the FIG. 2 set-up
configuration, and a second edge 40 which is the blade bottom edge
in the FIG. 2 set-up configuration. As shown in FIG. 2, each blade
inner edge 34 is connected to the main beam 26 by a first
blade-to-main frame attaching means 42 to be movable along the
longitudinal centerline of the main beam and to be movable in a
plane which is upright with respect to the ground, and can be
vertical in some instances, and by a second blade-to-main frame
attaching means 44 to be movable along the longitudinal centerline
of the main beam 26.
As shown in FIG. 2, the blade assemblies 30 and the main beam 26
form a closed polygon which can be deformed during use and
operation of the device 10 to have the sides thereof form included
angles that are all different from each other, and to have the
sides thereof all lie in different planes whereby the device 10 can
be used in a large variety of configurations to accommodate a large
variety of terrains and uses. The main beam extends along a
diagonal of the polygon, and since both the inner and outer edges
34 and 36 of each blade are attached to the main beam 26, all
forces applied to and by the blade assemblies are applied to and
through the main beam. The main beam 26 can be shaped and sized to
adequately accommodate all such forces and the cantilever
connection between that main beam 26 and the main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means 24 can efficiently transfer forces to and from the
main beam and the vehicle 12.
The main frame-to-vehicle attaching means 24 forms a proximal end
of the earth-moving attachment 20, and is shown in FIG. 2 as
including an elongate cross-tongue 46 having attaching lugs 48 on
each end thereof. Each attaching lug 48 includes a pair of facially
opposed ears having fastener holes 50 defined therein for
accommodating fasteners which pivotally connect the main frame
assembly 22 to means on the vehicle. The cross-tongue 46 is
coplanar with the main beam 26 in a horizontal plane and receives
and transmits forces to that main beam. The coplanar arrangement of
these two elements permits efficient transfer of forces
therebetween.
The attaching means 24 further includes an elongate mast 52
attached to the cross-tongue 46 at a first end thereof to extend
upwardly therefrom in the FIG. 2 set-up configuration. The mast 52
includes a second end remote from the first end and having a mast
attachment lug 54 having facially opposing ears. The ears include
aligned holes 56 which accommodate a fastener for pivotally
attaching the mast to means on the vehicle.
The main frame-to-vehicle attaching means 24 includes gussets 58,
59 and 60 in the connection between the main beam 26 and the
cross-tongue 46 and between the cross-tongue 46 and the mast 52
respectively. The gussets 58, 59 and 60 further reinforce the
attachment means 24 and distribute forces therein.
As can be seen, the arrangement and orientation of the various
elements of the main frame-to-vehicle attaching means and of the
main frame assembly will accommodate and transmit forces in an
efficient manner no matter what the orientation of the blade
assemblies is with respect to each other, with respect to the
ground and with respect to the vehicle.
Each blade 32 is monolithic and includes a planar central portion
62, a top portion 64 which is angled with respect to the central
portion 62 and has the blade top edge 38 thereon, and a bottom
portion 66 which is angled with respect to the central portion 62
and which is adapted to mount an appended blade 68 thereon by means
of fasteners, such as bolts, or the like. Each blade 32 includes a
first surface 70 facing away from the main frame-to-vehicle
attaching means 24 and a second surface 72 facing the main
frame-to-vehicle attaching means 24.
Each blade assembly 30 includes a blade extension beam 74 mounted
on the blade first surface 70, and a blade support arm beam 76
mounted on the blade second surface. Both of the beams 74 and 76
extend along the longitudinal dimension of each blade from the
outer edge 36 thereof toward the inner edge 34 thereof.
The support arm beam 76 includes a pair of facially opposed
elongate elements 78 which have a multiplicity of fastener hole 80
defined therein to be aligned with each other. The purpose and
function of the beams 76 and 78 will be apparent from the ensuing
disclosure.
The first blade-to-main frame attaching means 42 is best shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, and attention is now directed to such figures.
Each blade assembly 30 includes a first blade-to-main frame
attaching means 42, and both are identical. Accordingly, only one
such attaching means 42 will be discussed. The attaching means 42
includes a pair of elongate L-shaped bracket elements 82, each
having a base 84 adapted to be mounted on the main beam 26 to be
oriented transversely of the main beam longitudinal centerline, and
a fastener-receiving leg 86 oriented to extend outwardly away from
the main beam. The bracket elements 82 thus extend in a vertical
plane in the FIG. 1 configuration of the device 10. Each of the
fastener-receiving legs 86 has a multiplicity of fastener-receiving
holes 88 defined therein to be in aligned relationship for
receiving fasteners 90, such as bolts or the like at various
positions relative to the main beam 26. The fastener-receiving legs
86 are spaced apart along the longitudinal centerline of the main
beam 26.
The bracket elements 82 are connected together and are slidably
mounted on the main beam 26 by a U-shaped bracket 92 having
parallel legs 94 connected together by bight section 96. The legs
94 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate the main
beam 26 therebetween, and include fastener-receiving holes 98 which
are aligned with each other. The main beam includes
fastener-receiving holes, such as hole 100, which are spaced apart
along the longitudinal centerline of the main beam. The U-shaped
bracket 92 is fixedly attached to the L-shaped bracket elements 82
to define a unitary slide bracket, and the slide bracket is movably
attached to the main beam 26 by fasteners 102, such as bolts or the
like received through the aligned holes 98 and 100 to attach the
first blade-to-main frame attaching means 42 to the main beam 26 at
a selected location.
The bracket 92 thus permits the first blade-to-main frame attaching
means to be moved longitudinally of the main beam to adjust the
position of the blade assembly associated therewith in a plane that
extends along the ground, or in special cases, horizontally. The
bracket elements 82 thus permit the blade assembly associated
therewith to be moved in a plane that extends upright with respect
to the ground, and in some special cases, vertically. The brackets
92 and 82 also permit the inner edges of each of the blades to be
spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal centerline of
the main beam. In such a configuration, the main beam extends
along, not only the diagonal of the polygon formed by the
earth-moving attachment, but along one of the sides of that polygon
as well. The brackets 92 and 82 thus permit the first blade-to-main
frame attaching means 42 to be used to quickly and easily adjust
the position of the associated blade assembly in a plurality of
planes thereby giving the overall earth-moving attachment 20 a
substantial degree of versatility.
The blade associated with each attaching means 42 is attached to
the bracket elements 82 by a hinge assembly 104. The hinge assembly
104 includes a tube 106 adapted to be slidably received between the
L-shaped bracket elements 82, and including a fastener-receiving
through hole 108 adapted to receive fastener 90 to attach the hinge
assembly 104 to the bracket elements 82. The hinge assembly 104
further includes a pair of attachment ears 110 having
fastener-receiving holes 112 defined therein to be aligned with
each other for receiving a fastener 114, such as a hinge pin, or
the like, therethrough for attaching the hinge assembly 104 to the
blade extension bracket 74 via a fastener-receiving holes, such as
hole 116, defined in that blade extension beam 74. The blade
assembly 30 is thus attached to the L-shaped bracket elements via
the hinge assembly 104 and is hence attached to the main beam to
have a plurality of degrees of freedom with respect thereto in a
plurality of planes.
As is best shown in FIG. 6, each blade assembly 30 is individually
attached to the main beam 26 by its own separate attachment means,
and thus can be moved independently of the other blade assembly.
However, the forces exerted on and by the individual blade
assemblies are still efficiently transferred to and from the main
beam 26.
The second blade-to-main frame attachment means 44 is best shown in
FIG. 2, and attention is now directed back to such Figure. The
attachment means 44 includes an elongate link 118 which is
lengthwise adjustable. An example of such an adjustable link is a
hydraulic element which is shown in FIG. 2. The hydraulic element
includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 120 having a rod 122
extending outwardly therefrom. The cylinder 120 operates on
hydraulic pressure in the usual manner, and includes hydraulic
lines 126 fluidically attaching the cylinder 120 to a hydraulic
system located remotely from the blade assembly, such as on the
vehicle 12, or the like.
The hydraulic cylinder is attached to the associated blade by means
of a cylinder-to-blade extension beam attaching means which
includes an attaching ear 124 on the cylinder rod 122 and a clevis
128 having a clevis pin 130 which attaches the attaching ear 124 to
the blade support arm beam 76. The clevis 128 is attached to the
beam 76 by a fastener 132, such as a bolt, which extends through
the holes 80 in the beam 76. The clevis is attached to the fastener
132 to be pivotal in a plane which contains the cylinder to move
toward and away from the main beam 26.
The other end of the cylinder 120 is attached to the main beam 26
by a link attaching means 134. The link attaching means 134
includes a slider 136 mounted on the main beam by a fastener 138,
such as a bolt, extending through a hole in the slider and received
in a hole, such as hole 140 defined in the main beam. There are a
plurality of holes 140 and all are spaced apart longitudinally of
the main beam so that slider 136 can be moved along the
longitudinal axis of the main beam to adjust the orientation of the
blade assemblies 30.
The slider 136 and the attaching means 134 are best shown in FIG.
10, and attention is now directed thereto. The slider 136 includes
a first plate 142, which is the top plate in the FIG. 2
configuration, and a second plate 144, which is the bottom plate in
the FIG. 2 configuration, connected together by side plates 146
which are spaced apart along the lengthwise dimension of the slider
a distance sufficient to accommodate the main beam 26 therebetween.
The slider includes a fastener-receiving hole 148 which receives
the fastener 138 attaching the slider to the main beam.
Each hydraulic cylinder 120 is attached to the slider by a
cylinder-to-slider attaching means which includes an attaching ear
150 having fastener-receiving holes defined therein for receiving a
fastener 152, such as a hinge pin, or the like, and a clevis
assembly 154 which is mounted on each of the slider side plates 146
in a pivotal attachment. The clevis assembly includes a tube 156
pivotally mounted on an associated one of the slider side plates
146 and an ear 158 having a fastener-receiving hole defined therein
for receiving fastener 152 to pivotally attach the clevis assembly
154 to the cylinder attaching are 150 thereby pivotally attaching
the slider 136 to the hydraulic cylinder 120 in a manner which
permits the link arm 118 to move in a plane containing the main
beam 26. In this manner, the link arms 118 can move toward and away
from the main beam 26 to adjust the orienation of the blade
assemblies 30 with respect to each other and with respect to the
main beam 26.
While a hydraulic system is shown as the link 118, it can also be a
mechanical link, such as a jackscrew, a lap joint, or the like
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the blades can be supported by means
such as lateral braces 160 which are mounted on the blade surface
72 and extend from the blade extension bracket 74 to the second
edge 40 of the blade. The beam can also include a segment 162
supporting the appended blade 68, and the beam 74 can include
brackets 164 attached to that beam 74 by fasteners 166.
The blade assemblies can also include additional implements which
are attached in outrigger fashion by linkages 168. Each of the
outrigger linkages includes an elongate link arm 170 mounted on the
blade and extending from the beam 74 to the second edge 40 thereof,
and including an extension 172 associated with the appended blade
68. Each link arm 170 has a plurality of spaced-apart holes 174
defined therein. A second link arm 176 includes a pair of arms 178
attached together by a lap joint 180 which includes a plurality of
fasteners 182. One end of second link arm 176 is attached to the
first link 170 by a fastener extending through the holes 174 and a
hole defined in one end of the second link arm 178. The other end
of the link arm 178 has a fastener-receiving hole defined
therein.
As best shown in FIG. 9, one form of outrigger attachment includes
a skid 184 having a plate 186 with an attachment ear 188 thereon
with a fastener-receiving hole defined therein for receiving a
fastener 190 to pivotally attach the skid 184 to the link arm 178.
A further link 192 attaches another part of the skid to the brace
extension 172 to attach the skid to the blade in a secure manner. A
pivot pin 194 attaches the link 192 to the brace extension.
Other outrigger attachments, such as rollers, upper appended blades
196 (FIG. 3) or the like can also be used in conjunction with the
blade assembly 30 if suitable. Such additional attachments increase
the versatility of the device 10.
As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the inner edge 34 of each blade is
sideways stepped to decline toward the main beam from the first
blade edge 38. This sideways stepping permits the lower marginal
portions of the blade inner edges to be located as close to each
other as possible to increase earth-moving efficiency of the
device, yet will define a spacing between the blade inner edges
adjacent to the first blade-to-main frame attaching means 42 to
permit the blade assemblies 30 to be moved using such attaching
means 42 as above discussed. In this manner, the earth-moving
attachment 20 can be easily adjusted, yet can also move the most
earth possible.
The operation of the device 10 should be evident to one skilled in
this art from the above description. Accordingly, this operation
will not be discussed in detail. It is to be noted, however, that,
as indicated in FIG. 4, the blade assemblies 30 can be adjusted
independently of each other to assume a variety of orientations
with respect to the ground and with respect to each other using the
main frame assembly 20 in the manner discussed above. For example,
one of the blade assemblies can be on a higher plane than the other
blade assembly, and the angular orientation of the assemblies with
respect to each other can be adjusted using the main frame assembly
20 in the manner discussed above. It is noted that the angular
relationship of the blade assemblies can be adjusted in two planes
by means of the first and second blade-to-main frame attaching
means. This permits a multi-degree of freedom adjustment of the
attachment 20. It is also noted that in any of the positions of the
blade assemblies, the forces exerted on and by the blades are
efficiently transferred to and from the main beam and to and from
the vehicle due to the relationship of the elements as discussed
above.
By attaching the main beam 26 the distal end of the main beam to a
vehicle, the attachment 20 can be pulled behind a vehicle. Even in
such an operational mode, the forces arising in the attachment 20
are evenly distributed due to the relative orientation of the
elements as discussed above.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
In addition to the above-mentioned uses for the device 10, this
device can be used in the following situations: to cover ditches
with continuous movements; to construct terraces; to construct
embankments for various uses; to pile and pack earth works to
prevent flooding; in the manufacture of artificial waterways; to
bank around railroad tracks and buildings; to produce military
embankments; to form banks around trees and plants to retain water;
to plant seedlings; to reform and reshape piles of material such as
sand and road tar; to evenly pile material; to pile snow collected
on roads, parking lots, playing fields and the like; to loosen and
pile manure in pens; in mining; in surface mining; in sand and
gravel pit operations; in various farm operations; in gardening
operations; to clean up debris; to load industrial belts; to pile
old asphalt from a road; for use in connection with an escalator to
load trucks; and the like.
The blades can be moved and their positions altered to adapt the
attachment 10 to the particular earth-moving job being conducted.
These positions can be varied independently of each other, or can
be varied in a functionally related manner as necessary to produce
the desired angular relationship for a particular job. Still
further, these positions of attachment can be varied to even
reverse the angular relationship of the blades from proximally
diverging relationship shown in FIG. 2 to a proximally converging
relationship whereby the blades can be oriented to most effectively
distribute forces and move earth for a particular job.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present
invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not
intended to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of
parts described and shown.
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